Letter: Cancellation of proposed coal-fueled power plant is applauded

I see in the recent headlines that the Public Service Commission is considering allowing Consumers Energy to recoup over $20 million by taking it out of its ratepayers. This is the amount that Consumers spent on preparing for the now abandoned coal-fired expansion at Karn-Weadock in Bay County.

People need to understand that the ratepayer gouge could have been much worse. Consumers was poised to spend over 100 times that amount on an expansion that was not needed, based on a 19th century energy source. Energy from coal, even with all of the pollution controls available, is still by far the dirtiest way to produce electricity.

What is regrettable is how this boondoggle was approved in the first place. Five years ago, Michigan law was changed to make the energy market less competitive. Consumers and DTE Energy now have a lock on 90 percent of the customers in Michigan. Among other regulatory missteps, in approving the air permit, the DEQ accepted data and analysis provided by Consumers.

I applaud Consumers’ recent decision to cancel its plans for this ill-considered expansion. We can only hope that in the future, the Legislature, DEQ and local community leaders will be more considerate of the people’s needs and feel less obligated in supporting expensive, irresponsible decisions by “regulated” utilities.